by Juma Nyamori
It is with great pride and enthusiasm that I announce the launch of the Leading Your International School Principal’s Qualification (LYIS-Q) – our flagship professional development programme designed specifically for aspiring international school leaders. This groundbreaking qualification will officially roll out in September 2025, ushering in a new era of globally relevant, high-impact leadership development.
The LYIS-Q is the culmination of extensive consultations with an esteemed and diverse group of educators, school heads, and thought leaders from across the globe. In shaping this qualification, we sought to remain true to the heart of the LYIS mission: to deliver professional learning that is interesting, challenging, and deeply motivating. This qualification is not just another credential – it is a call to bold, reflective, and effective leadership in the complex world of international education.
A Framework Built for the Future
The LYIS-Q is structured around three core pillars – Engagement, Empowerment, and Enjoyment. These “Three Es” serve as the foundation of a 12-month modular learning journey that will stretch, support, and inspire participants through an agile and context-aware framework.
What distinguishes LYIS-Q is its coaching-based approach. Rather than delivering pre-packaged solutions, we empower participants to reflect critically on their own school contexts, cultures, and challenges. This creates a highly personalised and immediately applicable leadership development experience, tailored to the unique circumstances faced by school leaders across different countries and systems.
Our curriculum has drawn thoughtful inspiration from globally respected programmes such as the UK’s National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) and other renowned leadership qualifications. However, LYIS-Q is firmly grounded in the international school reality, shaped by our extensive experience working with leaders in multicultural, multilingual, and mission-driven settings. It is this contextual fidelity that makes the LYIS-Q truly distinctive and relevant.
A Truly International Faculty
At LYIS, we are committed to ensuring that our programmes are delivered by those who understand the journey. To that end, LYIS-Q is facilitated by a carefully curated panel of seasoned educators and international school leaders from a variety of continents and school systems. Each facilitator brings a wealth of experience, passion, and insight, representing the very best of global educational leadership.
Their collective experience spans founding schools, leading institutional turnarounds, implementing curriculum reform, championing wellbeing, and navigating complex governance structures. With such diversity of thought and depth of knowledge, our participants will be mentored by professionals who know firsthand the opportunities and complexities of the international education space.
The Qualification for Those Who Want to Lead Differently
If you are an aspiring Head Teacher – or indeed an established leader ready to refine your vision and reimagine your impact – this is your moment. The LYIS-Q offers you a chance to:
●Reflect deeply on your leadership identity and effectiveness
●Design innovative strategies for school improvement and growth
●Develop agile competencies that anticipate the future of learning
●Join a global learning community of purpose-driven leaders
●Gain a meaningful and respected qualification grounded in practice
Our ambition is to support leaders who want to make a difference, not only within their schools but across the broader international education landscape. The LYIS-Q is a powerful step forward for anyone seeking to future-proof their leadership with competencies that are adaptable, reflective, and globally relevant.
Let the Journey Begin
As we prepare for the inaugural cohort of LYIS-Q in September 2025, we invite expressions of interest from educators who are ready to take the next bold step in their leadership journey. Whether you are based in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas, or the Middle East, this programme is designed for you, your school context, and the global future we are all shaping together.
The LYIS-Q is not just a qualification. It is a declaration of intent – to lead with purpose, to grow with humility, and to shape education for generations to come.
We can’t wait to welcome you.
Juma Nyamori, Head Teacher, Rusinga Schools, Nairobi; Chair of the Board, LYIS
